Tag: channa dal

South Indian Style Brown Fried Rice with Red Pepper and Green Beans

I love south indian style lemon rice… and make it often… so I was in the mood but wanted to make it healthier and filled with veggies- so I came up with this recipe… I cooked it with brown rice and added peppers and green beans.. check it out- it is yummy!

1 cup brown jasmine rice, rinsed
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups water

Transfer the rice to a heavy saucepan with the oil and sauté on medium heat for a minute. Add the salt and water, bring to a boil and cover partially with a lid and lower the heat to a low medium. Continue cooking, about 15 minutes till all the water is cooked off from the surface. Place the lid on the pan and lower the heat to a very low and continue cooking for at least 20 minutes or till cooked. Fluff with fork and let cool.

2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
12-15 curry leaves, chopped
1 tablespoon white moong dal
1 tablespoon channa dal
¼ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
½ cup roasted peanuts, chopped
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 inch fresh ginger, grated
1 red pepper, chopped
1 cup green beans, chopped
Salt
Juice of half a large lemon
½ cup cilantro, chopped

Add the oil to a wok like saucepan with the mustard seeds, cumin seeds, curry leaves, moong dal, channa dal, coconut and peanuts. Saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the onion and ginger and sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the red pepper and green beans and sauté for another 2 to 3 minutes. Add the cooled brown rice, salt and lemon juice. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes, check for seasonings and finish off with the cilantro. Serve with grilled meats or lentils.

Dal Makhani- Black Lentils with a Cream Sauce

Diwali is coming up and this is a must in our house… people typically make this lentil dish for a special occasion but it is so simple… you can make it any day you want… yum!

1 cup whole urad dal (black lentils)
¼ cup rajma (red kidney beans)
¼ cup channa dal (gram lentils)
4 cups water
1 cup crushed tomatoes
1 small yellow onion, chopped
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 inch piece of ginger, minced
2 teaspoons salt
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons coriander powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 tablespoon ghee or butter
2 teaspoon garam masala
3 tablespoons half and half

In a pressure cooker or sauce-pan, add the urad dal, rajma, channa dal, water, crushed tomatoes, onion, garlic, ginger, salt, cayenne pepper, coriander powder, turmeric and ghee. If using a pressure cooker, then close the lid and cook on high till the pressure is built, then turn the heat on low and cook for an hour. Turn the heat off, and take the lid off- check the consistency. The dal should be like a thick soup or a think stew. If there is excess liquid, then turn the heat on high and begin to evaporate the liquid. Add the garam masala and half and half. Cook till the dal reaches desired consistency. Taste for seasonings.
If using a sauce-pan, then bring the mixture to a boil and lower the heat, cook for at least 2 hours or till the lentils are soft and mushy. Add the garam masals and half and half. Cook till the dal reaches desired consistency. Taste for seasonings.

Cabbage and Carrots

My husband loves cabbage… so I try to make it a different way each time I cook it, which is not too often as I am not a huge fan. I will eat it but I never seek it out in a grocery store. I should since it is so healthy to eat…

2 tablespoons coconut oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
10 to 15 curry leaves, chopped
1 inch fresh ginger, grated
½ cup peanuts, chopped
1 tablespoon channa dal
1 tablespoon white urad dal
3 cups green cabbage, shredded
1 cup carrots, shredded
2 teaspoons ground coriander
½ cup cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons salt

Heat a medium pan with the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the mustard seeds, cumin seeds and curry leaves. Cook for a minute. Add the ginger, peanuts, channa dal and urad dal. Saute for 3 to 4 minutes on medium heat. Add the cabbage, carrots, ground coriander, cayenne pepper and salt. Mix well and sauté on medium heat for 5 to 6 minutes, stirring constantly. Lower the heat and cover with lid and cook for 5 minutes. Take lid off and check for seasonings. Serve warm.

Healthy South Indian Style Lemon Rice

This is a great dish to eat as a snack or as a starch in a meal- the best part is that they are super healthy. I used brown rice and no one could tell!!

2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1½ cups brown rice
1 cup coconut milk
½ teaspoon turmeric
3 cups water
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons urad dal
2 teaspoons channa dal
2 teaspoons mustard seeds
10-12 curry leaves
2-3 dried red chilies
A pinch of asafetida
½ cup peanuts, roasted
4 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Salt to taste

Heat a saucepan with the oil and butter. Add the rice and sauté on medium heat for 30 seconds. Add the coconut milk, turmeric, water and salt. Bring to a boil and lower heat to a simmer, partially covered for 20 minutes. Once the liquid is cooked from the surface, lower the heat and place lid. Cook for another 15 minutes or till the rice is cooked through but not mushy. Cool the rice off once cooked and keep aside.

In a large wok like pan, heat the oil. Add the urad and channa dal and sauté for about 30 seconds on medium heat. Add the mustard seeds and curry leaves and saute for another minute. Next, add the red chilies and asafetida. Add the cooked and cooled rice. Mix well. Add the peanuts, lemon juice and salt. Mix well and serve.

Shami Kebab

These are kebabs typically made out of beef- very prevalent in Pakistani cuisine. They are one of my favorites- but I had never made them before…

1 pound grass fed ground beef
1/3 cup channa dal
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 teaspoon coriander seeds
3 cloves
2 inch cinnamon stick
¼ cup nutmeg powder
3 garlic cloves, chopped
1 inch ginger, chopped
1 small yellow onion, chopped
2 tablespoons yogurt
1 teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten
½ cup cilantro, chopped
½ cup fresh mint, chopped
1 teaspoon salt or to taste
3 to 4 tablespoon extra light olive oil

Soak the channa dal in half a cup of water for an hour. Transfer the beef, cumin seeds, coriander seeds, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, ginger, onion, yogurt, salt and the channa dal with the water into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil and cook on a simmer, covered for 10 minutes. Take the lid off and cook for an additional 5 to 7 minutes on medium heat until all the liquid is cooked off. Take off the heat and set aside to cool.

Once the mixture is fully cooled, transfer into a food processor and add the egg, cilantro, mint and salt. Process till everything is smooth and incorporated. Form flat patties by using a tablespoon measure. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan and sauté the patties, about 3 to 4 at a time and brown on each side. Serve warm with cilantro chutney.

Indian Style Polenta

Polenta is a very easy, healthy and quick starch to make. Like rice, it is very versatile and anything and everything can be added to make it yummier. I have made quite a few different kinds in the past.

I made this one Indian style to serve with the fish curry. I started with mustard seeds and curry leaves. I also added a couple of different kinds of lentils for a nice crunch and I also included peanuts.

My original idea was to cook the polenta in coconut milk and chicken broth but then I realized I was out of coconut milk. Instead I cooked it with my normal mixture of milk and chicken broth- both the liquids ensure yummy flavor in the dish.. and this dish was extremely yummy.

The only person who doesn’t like polenta in the house is my daughter. I made her some rice on the side. She does not enjoy the texture of polenta… but I love it…

1 cup fine polenta
1½ cups chicken or vegetable broth
1½ cups milk
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons extra light olive oil
1 teaspoon mustard seeds
4 to 5 curry leaves
1 tablespoons white moong dal
1 tablespoons channa dal
½ cup roasted peanuts, chopped
1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed

Heat a medium saucepan with the olive oil. Add the mustard seeds, curry leaves, moong dal, channa dal and peanuts. Saute on medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the spinach and sauté for a minute. Add the broth and milk with the salt. Bring to a boil and add the polenta. Follow package instructions to cook the polenta. Taste for seasonings and serve with the fish curry.

Spinach with Mustard Seeds

This is a delicious side dish to make with any kind of meal- especially an Indian meal. It is quick with not too many ingredients….